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Re: Does Toyota have a sludge/gel warranty program

I am researching this problem and found @

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the following information

Here are the guidelines Toyota is using to establish the engines that are prone to having the sludge (gel) condition:

Camry 4 cyl. Produced 8/96 - 7/01 Camry 6 cyl. Produced 8/96 - 7/01 Solara 4 cyl. Produced 6/98 - 5/01 Solara 6 cyl. Produced 6/98 - 5/01 Sienna 6 cyl. Produced 7/97 - 5/01 Avalon 6 cyl. Produced 7/96 - 5/01 Celica 4 cyl. Produced 8/96 - 4/99 Highlander 6 cyl. Produced 11/00 - 7/01 If you look at the vehicle identification label on the left door or left door post you can find the date of manufacutre. It normally is one of the first things you can see on the upper left of the label (example 7/98 means it was made July, 1998).

The actual cause of the problem is an inability of the engine's crankcase ventilation system (PCV) to move the normal gases from the engine. When these gases stay longer in an hot engine it allows deposits to form on the metal parts of the engine. When enough deposits are present "Sludge" is formed. In my opinion the reduced flow of the PCV is related to the vehicle emissions. This presents a problem since to correct it may require Toyota to recertify the engines, come up with a solution acceptable to the EPA and then they still have to repair or assist in repairing the affected engines. The costs would be staggering but ignoring the problem, in so many of their best selling vehicles, may be worse in the long run. In the various articles I've listed below, if you want, you will learn more about the cause an effect.

The following topics are links to gather more information about what causes the condition. At this point this is for information only, if you have the condition please contact your local Toyota

I am new to this newsgroup and am wondering about all the problems about oil slude.

Is there a problem here and does Toyota have a sludge/gel warranty program?

What year camrys does it cover if it exist?

Here are the guidelines Toyota is using to establish the engines that are prone to having the sludge (gel) condition:

Camry 4 cyl. Produced 8/96 - 7/01 Camry 6 cyl. Produced 8/96 - 7/01 Solara 4 cyl. Produced 6/98 - 5/01 Solara 6 cyl. Produced 6/98 - 5/01 Sienna 6 cyl. Produced 7/97 - 5/01 Avalon 6 cyl. Produced 7/96 - 5/01 Celica 4 cyl. Produced 8/96 - 4/99 Highlander 6 cyl. Produced 11/00 - 7/01 If you look at the vehicle identification label on the left door or left door post you can find the date of manufacutre. It normally is one of the first things you can see on the upper left of the label (example 7/98 means it was made July, 1998).

The actual cause of the problem is an inability of the engine's crankcase ventilation system (PCV) to move the normal gases from the engine. When these gases stay longer in an hot engine it allows deposits to form on the metal parts of the engine. When enough deposits are present "Sludge" is formed. In my opinion the reduced flow of the PCV is related to the vehicle emissions. This presents a problem since to correct it may require Toyota to recertify the engines, come up with a solution acceptable to the EPA and then they still have to repair or assist in repairing the affected engines. The costs would be staggering but ignoring the problem, in so many of their best selling vehicles, may be worse in the long run. In the various articles I've listed below, if you want, you will learn more about the cause an effect.

The following topics are links to gather more information about what causes the condition. At this point this is for information only, if you have the condition please contact your local Toyota

I am new to this newsgroup and am wondering about all the problems about oil slude.

Is there a problem here and does Toyota have a sludge/gel warranty program?

What year camrys does it cover if it exist?

Reply to
Mel
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This makes sense. I was checking the PCV on my 2000 Sienna the other day. I noticed that the ventilation hose on the front cover does not have any air flowing in or out when the engine is running. The rear PCV has some. I was kind of surprised that there is no ventilation at the front.

Is there any way to rectify this ventilation problem?

Thanks!

BTW, I have not had any sludge problem. Changed oil regularly within 5K. Just worried it may be sludging under the cover after reading the above info.

Reply to
XYZ ABC

This makes sense. I was checking the PCV on my 2000 Sienna the other day. I noticed that the ventilation hose on the front cover does not have any air flowing in or out when the engine is running. The rear PCV has some. I was kind of surprised that there is no ventilation at the front.

Is there any way to rectify this ventilation problem?

Thanks!

BTW, I have not had any sludge problem. Changed oil regularly within 5K. Just worried it may be sludging under the cover after reading the above info.

The PCV system works the most at medium throttle when inlet manifold vacuum is neither heavy (as at idle) or at a minimum ( as at heavy throttle). The reason being, at idle a wide open PCV valve would cause the engine to stall, so at idle you wont see much circulation. At wide-open throttle there is little vacuum, therefore the PCV is almost inoperative, and is incapable of scavenging the fumes in the crankcase from blow-by, so they allow the fumes which are under considerable pressure, to vent thru a hose directly into the inlet before the butterfly valve (throttle-valve).

The comment about fumes being in the engine too long, is a bit strange as these fumes will pressurise the crankcase quite quickly and cam-cover thus venting out where it can, which is via the PCV and direct hose. If the fumes could not get out these 2 places, the dip-stick would be pushed out of its tube.

Jason

Reply to
Jason James

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